Housing Predictor forecasts more than 250 local housing markets in all 50 U.S. states and regularly surveys markets on issues related to the nation's housing markets.



The toll from the sub-prime melt down will exceed more than 2-million foreclosures nationwide. But the impact is limited in scope to areas that have less healthy local economies, where home owners have been forced to qualify for less desirable sub-prime mortgages as a result of lower credit standings.

Housing Predictor surveyed more than four dozen markets from the east coast to the west to gather it's findings, and details the report on it's web site. Vacation and second home markets along with higher income areas are immune from the fall out, researchers determined, as a result of few sub-prime mortgages.

Some markets in high priced California are severely impacted by the sub-prime crisis, while others in the state feel little effect. Housing markets from coast to coast are almost waiting for the proverbial boot to drop, unsure of their markets susceptibility to the sub-prime crisis, but many markets are insulated from the damage.

Second home and vacation markets are feeling the least impact, mainly because many second home owners pay for properties in cash or have smaller mortgages on their properties.

The sub-prime melt down has been the single largest factor affecting the nation's real estate markets since the Savings and Loan Fraud Crisis in the late 1980's. The Housing Predictor study shows many markets are unaffected.

The nation's real estate boom, which lasted more than five years in some markets had a great effect on those who could not qualify to become a home owner because of poor credit conventionally, and thought the only way they could ever get a mortgage was through a sub prime mortgage. But the real estate nation's slow down has already leveled off in at least 18 states, where housing markets are appreciating. Another ten states markets have stabilized and are showing signs of future appreciation as the markets adjust.